Large Study finds taking vitamins does not prevent Heart disease

http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/2008.600

Published in the most recent online portion of JAMA, are the results
from a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial, that
evaluated the supplementation of Vitamin E and C in the prevention of
heart disease. The study found no reduction in the rates of heart
disease in the group taking vitamins.

The study consisted of physicians, over 14,000 subjects, that were
followed for 8 years. The study group was all men, and were randomized
to either receive vitamin E(400 units/daily) or placebo, and/or vitamin
C(500 mg/dialy) or placebo. The study found no difference in either
groups with major cardiovascular events.

Observational studies, have suggested a benefit, of these known
antioxidants in the prevention of both heart disease and cancer. Basic
research has given us models as to how this would work, i.e. by
reducing free radicals. However this study clearly found no benefit,
contrary to previous reported results and what many gurus would
consider the holy grail of health.

Based on this research, and the amount of vitamins Americans
consume, many would ask, could vitamins being doing more harm than
good. As some reassurance, this study also found no increased adverse
effects in the experimental group.

The clinical trial also looked at
beta-carotene and multivitamin supplemenation in prevention, but these
results were not reported in this study.  Beta carotene struck out in cancer prevention in the 1990s, so it remains to be seen what effect it will have in cardiovascular diseases.